Our Strategy

Strategic Plan 2026-2030

Following an extensive consultation process, FSI’s new strategy has been developed to reflect the needs of our stakeholders, the development of our staff and the rapidly evolving field of forensic science.

In our updated strategy we remain committed to our central purpose which we believe is an enduring statement of intent:

“Science Supporting Justice”

We have also included a new vision of the agency we want to create. This vision articulates what has always been the unstated vision for the agency and is one which has never been more important:

“To be one of the most innovative forensics agencies at the leading edge of forensic science”

The strategy is comprised of 6 pillars.

1. Service Effectiveness reflects the need to continue to act with responsiveness, adaptability and flexibility to provide a high-quality service that meets the evolving needs of the Justice System and society. We will build on a culture of continuous improvement and will use data analytics to inform efficiencies with the current processes, identify new areas for development and deliver a smarter, more efficient service aligned with demands, available resources and trends in crime. We will collaborate with partners to support the delivery of shared outcomes, including the provision of expert witnesses for court, out of hours service and scene of crime training.
   
   
2. Investing in our People is critical in progressing any of our strategic themes. We need to attract talented individuals and continuously develop our staff at all grades. To keep pace with the changing world of forensics we must enhance existing capabilities and develop new ones through training, development, coaching, mentoring and education. In a challenging environment where STEM graduates are experiencing full employment, FSI needs to showcase the societal impact of our work and support our staff through well-being initiatives and a supportive work culture. We need to grow the organisation to fulfil service demands with acceptable backlog levels. We will focus on enhancing FSI’s external brand and visibility and strengthen both our external and internal communications.
   
   
3. Science, Technology, Research and Innovation is a cornerstone of FSI with both an internal and external focus to drive our capabilities in scientific examinations and analyses as well as introducing new technologies. The expertise and experience of our staff enables FSI to drive and influence forensic research and innovation. We will collaborate with the academic community and our stakeholders to build awareness of emerging technologies and their potential for application in Forensic Science. We will continue to lead in our Expert Evaluative Opinion (EEO) approach to forensic casework and maintain our active participation in all relevant ENFSI and AFSP working groups. We will continue to develop our ICT systems and data analytic tools to facilitate our scientific innovation. 
   
   
4. Partnership and Cross-Sectoral Influence establishes FSI as an effective partner across the criminal justice system and beyond. FSI will work with key stakeholders to support and influence policies, legislation and practices that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its services.
   
   
5. Quality Systems reflect our imperative to deliver robust, transparent, balanced and logical analyses, opinions and interpretations and ensure we are operating to the very best international practices. Our work is accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) to ISO17025, the rigorous standard for testing laboratories, which provides independent external quality assurance of our technical and management standards.
   
   
6. Environment, Social and Governance activities extend across all areas of FSI. We are ambitious about our 2050 emissions targets and we will introduce initiatives that will have a tangible impact. As a science-based organisation, we will promote greater public awareness of forensic science and be champions of STEM education and engagement. We will build on our robust governance frameworks by developing a deeply embedded culture of transparency and scientific rigour.